Table 4

Effect sizes of treatment effects for non-electrotherapeutic physiotherapy

 Short termIntermediate termLong term
4–12 weeks26 weeks52 weeks
Manipulation and exercise vs no intervention
Overall improvement RR (relative risk) (95% CI)—RR>1 favours treatment
 Bisset2.44 (1.54 to 3.85)*0.94 (0.78 to 1.12)1.04 (0.93 to 1.15)
 Coombes4.00 (1.46 to 10.94)*1.06 (0.89 to 1.28)1.08 (0.99 to 1.18)
 Pooled2.75 (2.09 to 3.62)*0.99 (0.75 to 1.30)1.05 (0.75 to 1.49)
 Heterogeneityp=0.37, I2=0%p=0.33 I2=0%p=0.57 I2=0%
Pain SMD (standardised mean difference; 95% CI)—negative value favours treatment
 Bisset−0.63 (−0.99 to −0.27)*−0.25 (−0.62 to 0.11)−0.38 (−0.74 to −0.03)*
 Coombes−1.27 (−1.74 to −0.79)*0.00 (−0.44 to 0.44)0.00 (−0.44 to 0.44)
 Pooled−0.15 (−0.43 to 0.13)−0.23 (−-0.51 to 0.04)
 Heterogeneity>65%p=0.39 I2=0%p=0.18 I2=45%
Pain-free grip strength ratio affected/ unaffected arm SMD (95%)
Bisset0.76 (0.39 to 1.13)*0.20 (−0.47 to 0.56)0.17 (–0.18 to 0.52)
Exercise vs no intervention
DASH score (0−100, 100 most discomforts, negative value favours treatment) SMD (95% CI)
 Peterson−0.03 (−0.47 to 0.40)
Pain on maximum voluntary contraction SMD (95% CI)—negative value favours treatment
 Peterson−0.30 (−0.74 to 0.14)
Pain on maximum muscular elongation SMD (95% CI)—negative value favours treatment
 Peterson−0.24 (−0.68 to 0.19)-–
Eccentric exercise and stretching vs stretching
DASH score (0−100, 100 most discomforts, negative value favours treatment) SMD (95% CI)
 M-Silvestrini−0.07 (−0.46 to 0.60)
Pain SMD (95% CI)—negative value favours treatment
 M-Silvestrini−0.04 (−0.57 to 0.49)
Pain-free grip strength affected arm SMD (95%)
 M-Silvestrini−0.26 (−0.79 to 0.27)
Concentric exercise and stretching vs stretching
DASH score (0−100, 100 most complaints, negative value favours treatment) SMD (95% CI)
 M-Silvestrini0.14 (−0.39 to 0.68)
Pain SMD (95% CI)—negative value favours treatment
 M-Silvestrini0.41 (−0.13 to 0.95)
Pain-free grip strength affected arm SMD (95% CI)
 M-Silvestrini−0.34 (−0.88 to 0.20)
Eccentric exercise and stretching vs no intervention (sham ultrasound, elbow support) overall improvement RR (95% CI)—RR>1 favours treatment
 Selvanetti23.39 (3.38 to 161.70)*
Pain on Ko scale (larger value means less pain) SMD (95% CI)
 Selvanetti4.45 (3.51 to 5.40)*−4.65 (3.68 to 5.63) *
Grip strength on Ko scale (larger value means greater strength) SMD (95% CI)
 Selvanetti3.16 (2.40 to 3.92)*­−3.65 (2.82 to 4.47) *
  • *Statistically significant (p<0.05).